Range of unpaid contributions listed

By LAURA DUKESStaff writer

A group with no salaries, no union and no offices or classrooms was honored by the Calvert County Board of Education at its meeting on Thursday: The Calvert County Public Schools Volunteers of the Year.

One volunteer was picked for each of the 24 public schools in the county and they were lauded by CCPS Teaching Specialist Bridget Kluwin, who coordinated the program.

“We cannot tell you how much we appreciate what you do,” said CCPS Superintendent Jack Smith, who called volunteers “one of the critical elements in Calvert County Public Schools.”

The volunteers included mothers, grandmothers, a former teacher, the mother of a teacher and one lone male volunteer grandfather Robert “Bud” Higgs, representing Windy Hill Elementary School with a “contagious smile,” according to Kluwin.

Kluwin, who read passages put together by principals and teachers at each school, recognized volunteers like Eugenia Marie Carrol of Barstow Elementary School for always being there for students.

“She is their ‘genie’ … it is almost as if she reads minds because she always know what needs to be done,” Kluwin said of Carrol.

Vickie Anderson of Calvert Elementary School, who wore a pink bandana around her head, was recognized for helping out with the yearbook and PTA even while “facing serious health challenges.”

Loretta Goldsmith of Calvert High School was called a “nurse, comforter and mom” to the school’s NJROTC team and Judei Dudman of Calvert Middle School was credited for recently counting 1,500 pennies following a school penny drive.

The one volunteer not present at Thursday’s ceremony was Anne Varner Scott of Mill Creek Middle School, who Kluwin said was, not surprisingly, busy volunteering at her son’s field trip.

Jennifer Fleming of St. Leonard Elementary School may soon leave a permanent mark on her school, as Kluwin said “because of her efforts, St. Leonard [Elementary] may finally have a sign in front of it for the first time,” Kluwin said of Fleming’s fundraising efforts.

Huntingtown Elementary School volunteer of the year, Dee Dee Shirley, was also named volunteer of the year for the Calvert County public school system as a whole last Friday, May 18, at a Maryland State Department of Education banquet in Baltimore.

Shirley said she has been volunteer of the year at all three schools her kids have attended: Plum Point elementary and middle schools and now Huntingtown High School.

She said she has been a school volunteer for 10 years.

Shirley said her duties at Huntingtown High have included working in the front office once a week from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., answering phones, making copies and assisting with student graduation requirements and tickets.

“It’s very rewarding to me because staff treats me like family and I just love working with the students,” Shirley said. “I’ve made a ton of friends.”

ldukes@somdnews.com

2011-2012 Honorees

Diane Eaches at Appeal Elementary School

Eugenia Marie Carrol at Barstow Elementary School

Tiffany Brumley at Beach Elementary School

Christine Shipyan at Calvert Country School

Vickie Anderson at Calvert Elementary School

Loretta Goldsmith at Calvert High School

Judei Dudman at Calvert Middle School

Cynthia Fulton at Dowell Elementary School

Jane Clarke at Huntingtown Elementary School

Dee Dee Shirley at Huntingtown High School

Anne Varner Scott at Mill Creek Middle School

Jennifer Alexander at Mount Harmony Elementary School

Jean Shirley at Mutual Elementary School

Suzanne Drury at Northern High School

Darcey Clark at Northern Middle School

Jennifer Price at Patuxent Elementary School

Andrea Kroll at Patuxent High School

Amy Foulkes at Plum Point Elementary School

Tammy Brunstrom at Plum Point Middle School

Alissa Leonard at Southern Middle School

Jennifer Fleming at St. Leonard Elementary School

Laura O’Connor at Sunderland Elementary School

Robert “Bud” Higgs at Windy Hill Elementary School

Rosanna Noyes at Windy Hill Middle School